A waste of time and money? Or a bin-win situation? 1News examines the rollout of Auckland’s contentious food scraps collection service.
Nothing winds up a community Facebook group quite like a local council rolling out a new bin service.
When news emerged earlier this year that Auckland Council was planning to expand its food scrap collection service across the super city, local Facebook groups ran hot with complaints and counter-arguments about the little green bins.
My local community page was no exception. Some of the debate centred on people not being able to opt out of the service given they already composted their scraps. Ratepayers were angry that they had to pay for the service whether they used it or not. The rest either extolled the importance of keeping food scraps out of landfills or asked if anyone knew why the police helicopter was flying overhead.
But how is the food scraps service being received several months later?
'Why do I have to pay for this?'
Many Facebook comments have been around the fact that some residents already have compost systems in place but still need to pay the annual fee for the food scrap collection service.
The annual rates charge for the 2023/2024 collection is $77.20 per property. That works out to be less than $1.50 per collection spread across the 52 weeks.
“Another bin to add to the collection. I’m not against the concept but would have thought it should be an opt-in model instead of being charged regardless of using the service,” wrote one member on my community Facebook page.
“Most of us home compost but council charges households for these food scrap collections. It’s outrageous,” said another. (Names withheld to protect the outraged.)
Auckland Council said not being able to opt out of the food scraps charge is about affordability.
“This is the same for our recycling bin service and is part of making the service affordable for all and keeping food scraps out of landfill where they contribute to greenhouse gas emissions,” a council spokesperson said.
Food scraps produce methane and carbon dioxide when they are trapped in landfill. This is why all cities and districts are required to have food scrap collections in place by 2030.
Auckland Council said it’s encouraging people to give the food scraps collection service a go.
“We’ve heard from quite a few Aucklanders who were sceptical at first, but after giving their food scraps bin a go, are now enthusiastic users,” a council spokesperson said.
“People are noticing that their regular bin doesn’t smell and doesn’t get full as quickly.”
While food scraps bins are part of Auckland Council’s rubbish reduction goals, some argue they shouldn’t have to pay for them. (Source: 1News)
'I don’t want or need this service!'
Other complaints around the food scraps service come from people who already compost at home.
Or as one person shared on Facebook: “Government isn’t stealing my food scraps, thanks, I’ve got my own free compost heap.”
More than 440,000 food scraps bins have been rolled out across Auckland now, with the overall average participation rates sitting between 35-40% for the last four weeks.
“To put this in perspective, overseas participation rates for food scraps collections between 35% and 55% are considered normal,” Auckland Council said.
“This is also a massive change in people’s behaviour, so takes time to embed. Many other countries have had separate food scraps collections for a decade or more.”
The council said it’s seen a reduction in the weight of refuse in kerbside rubbish bins since the wider green bin rollout, too, by up to 20% in some areas.
It also reminded enthusiastic home composters that the bins can take items that usually can’t be composted in a home compost bin, like bones, fish, and shellfish shells.
'But wait! I DO want a bin! Why don’t I have one?'
Auckland Council said there are still some bins to deliver to households that are not as straightforward.
This includes properties that were still under construction when deliveries were made in their area and multi-unit developments that need a more tailored food scraps collection solution.
Auckland Council said it knows having 23-litre food scrap bins on the kerbside is not practical for multi-unit developments with 10 or more units.
It said all multi-unit developments, which includes apartments, retirement villages, gated communities, and terraced housing, will be assessed as to whether a food scraps collection service can be delivered either as normal or as a non-standard service.
Property managers or body corporates can register with Auckland Council for a site assessment to come up with a solution.
However, the food scraps collection service currently excludes apartments in the inner city centre due to its high density and limited space for access.
“We are working on solutions for the city centre in consultation with residents and appropriate agencies,” the council said.
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